In Session: Monki

Studying for an exam, surrounded by books and pieces of paper she wasn’t interested in, Monki was at a crossroads. At that moment, Skream’s remix of La Roux’s ‘In For The Kill’ filtered through the radio and the South Londoner made a decision. She quit the next day, after a six-month stint, and threw herself into music full time.

The path she chose is proving to be a prosperous one. Monki has become an influential voice for a new breed of diverse music via her Rinse and Radio 1 shows and a must-watch DJ thanks to triumphant sets up and down the UK and throughout Europe.

Her career began with a radio course at Point Blank in Hackney, leading to internships with Radio Jackie and Ministry Of Sound Radio before landing at Rinse FM. It was here she impressed her bosses with her rapid-fire style of mixing house, garage and bass and was eventually given a full-time, two-hour slot. In 2009, at just 18, Monki's fledgling career took another step forward when she caught the eye of Annie Mac, who asked her to open her night at KOKO on a bill featuring DJ Zinc, Katy B, Ms Dynamite, Fake Blood, Skream and Benga.